STILLWATER – Oklahoma State has started the 2025 season off on the right foot as the Cowboys beat the UT Martin Skyhawks, 27-7.
The Cowboys are now 1-0 on the season.
Starting quarterback Hauss Hejny had a solid debut before his day was cut short due to injury. He went 5-of-10 for 96 yards and one touchdown, while rushing for 27 yards and one touchdown on four carries, making him the leading Cowboy rusher through the first half.
Zane Flores came in the game to start the second quarter replacing Hejny. He finished the game going 13-for-20 with 136 yards. He also carried the ball three times for eight yards.
As an offense, the Cowboys combined for 359 yards, 232 yards through the air and 127 yards on the ground, roughly three yards per carry.
Linebacker Bryan McCoy led the Cowboys in tackles with 14 total tackles, six solo stops and one quarterback hurry. Brandon Rawls was second with 11 total tackles, six of which were solo stops, with one sack and 1.5 tackles for loss.
As a team, the Pokes combined for four sacks, nine tackles for loss, one pick, two pass break ups and six quarterback hurries.
Redshirt freshman linebacker Wendell Gregory had a great first half, recording three sacks. He became the first Cowboy to record three sacks in a game since Jordan Brailford did so on Sept. 29, 2018, against Kansas. It also tied the Big 12 freshman record set by Missouri’s Aldon Smith back in 2009.
It was reported just before the start of the second quarter Hejny entered the locker room as overly winded. His status was upgraded to out a little bit later with lower extremity issues.
The next leading rusher in the first half was Kalib Hicks, who had 11 carries 25 yards.
Hejny put the Pokes on the board first with a six-yard run just over 11 minutes left in the first quarter. That marked the first touchdown of his career, which was followed by his first passing touchdown of his career when he hit Gavin Freeman with a 10-yard pass with 3:57 left in the first quarter.
After giving up a touchdown on the second UTM drive of the game, the Cowboys force five-start Skyhawk punts, which was followed by an interception by Kale Smith. The Cowboy offense, unfortunately, failed to take advantage, recording a seven play, 21-yard drive, resulting in a 49-yard punt by Wes Pahl.
Flores and running back Sesi Vailahi nearly got the Pokes back on the board. Flores hit Vailahi for a 23-yard touchdown, but was called back as Sesi stepped out at the nine-yard line. He did, however, get back into the end zone a few plays later on a nine-yard run.
